Linda Lemmon

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Linda Dew Leemon, 76, originally of Joplin, Missouri met her Lord and Savior on Thursday, February 26, 2026, in Fort Worth Texas. Linda was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at the age of 7, with a prognosis that she would not live past the age of 20. Linda was a fighter and after 6 major resection surgeries beat the original prognosis by 52 years. 

At the age of 40 she was again given a life-threatening diagnosis of Marfan’s syndrome resulting in open heart surgery to replace her aortic valve with a metal one requiring a lifetime of medication. Even with these procedures and medications she still managed to live a full life of joy and love surrounded by her family. 

A blood clot was detected recently causing the metal valve not to function properly and it needing to be replaced. With her family by her side, she consented to the surgery; however, she could not keep fighting and has now joined Jesus and the loved ones who went before her.

Linda was born October 16, 1949, to Cody and Susie Drew. Linda and her brother Mark grew up on Annie Baxter with Cunningham Park as her backyard and attended Blendville Christian Church. Later attended Royal Heights UMC in Joplin and First United Methodist Church, Azle Tx. She had a love for Jesus and the church volunteering in ministries with a passion for Sound Tech and drama.

Linda dated her long-time husband Kenneth Dean Leemon after meeting him in St. Louis where they both worked. They dated for 10 years. Even though he had asked her to become his bride on 4 separate occasions she declined each time saying he was not ready to settle down (she was right). On October the 4th, 1981 Linda and Ken married in Birmingham Alabama. Linda and Ken celebrated their 44th anniversary this past October.

Because of the medical procedures Linda endured over the years she was unable to carry children to full-term but filled her life with her stepdaughters Sherry Leemon and Christy Leemon Kofargo, and in April of 1985 Linda and Ken adopted newborn Kenneth Drew (Kenny) Leemon into their family. Again, beginning in 2006, she welcomed Emma, Christopher, & Trey Leemon into the family as newborn infants. It has been a joy watching them interact as a family since.

Linda finished her master’s degree in speech pathology at Missouri Southern State University and worked in the Special Needs classrooms of both Joplin and Carl Junction school districts for 16 years. She had a heart for these children calling them “Her Kids” and loving each one as she aided with their educational needs.

Linda was correct about Ken's reluctance to settle down; after staying in Birmingham for just one year, they moved to Nashville for two years, then spent only six months in Fort Worth before accepting a promotion that took them to Chicago for another two years. To be close to Linda’s family, newborn Kenny and husband Ken moved along with Linda to Joplin. Their last move was in 2013 when they moved to Fort Worth to join Nate Starmer in a new life adventure after the E5 tornado destroyed a sizable portion of Joplin.

Linda leaves behind her beloved husband Ken, daughters Christy Kofargo (Pete) Belleville Il and Emma Leemon of Joplin. Her sons Kenny, Christopher, and Trey of the home and “bonus son” Nate Starmer of Fort Worth. Dixie Starmer her “bonus sister” of Joplin and Grandchildren Donnie Buehler and Katie (Sam) Hurst of Illinois, Madelyn and Mallory Leemon of Joplin and great grandchildren Abel, Sawyer, Tobias, and Luka Hurst of Belleville Il. Sister-in-law Janet Drew, nieces Lauren Slater and Bethany Drew of Joplin along with countless friends and extended family. She was greeted in Heaven by her parents, Cody and Susie Drew, brother Mark Drew, and daughter Sherry Leemon.

Funeral Services have been scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 6, 2026, at the Royal Heights Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends during a time of visitation on Thursday evening from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.